Key case



July 23, 1929. a. P. a: new 1,721,510

KEY CASE Filed April 16, 1925 .271 van for Jlzn del iEaa Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN I. DE LEAU, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

KEY CASE.

Application filed April 16, 1925.

My invention relates to key cases, suitable for carrying in the pocket, adapted to retain a plurality of keys in convenient arrangement for ready and convenient use.

The principal desirata in devices of this character are that the case occupy a minimum of space, especially in thickness, so it will lie flat in the pocket; that each key be individually retained, to obviate bunching and facilitate selection for use; and that the attaching m'eansfor the keys permit their lying flat in the case yet have individual freedom of movement, relative thereto, necessary for convenient use. All of these are satisfied with my device as they are and have been by similar devices heretofore on the market. But in addition to these considerations the object of my invention is to overcome certain objectionable features common to all these prior devices which I have known, to the end that each individual key is more readily accessible and has more freedom of movement relative to the case, and consequently is more satisfactory in use.

The principal desirderatain devices of this vention and similar devices heretofore known in the art is that the keys are not only normally retained in the case, in secure and compact arrangement, but they may be individually withdrawn therefrom to an extent which will permit'free rot'ationin a lock, in-

dependent of and without interference from the case. This permits a key to be held in one hand and used,'as if not attached, while the case is held in the other, or both may be held in one hand.

Another feature of my invention is, that after use the key is automatically drawn into the case to its normal position.

These and other features of my invention are more fully set forth in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated my preferred specific embodiment.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional View taken as indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 55 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Serial No. 23,714.

Fig. 5 is tional view, 55 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated by the line 66 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a case. which, for con- Venience of description, I will hereafter term a housing. This may and preferably will be formed of a suitable thin sheet metal; and may, for convenience of manufacture, be made in two parts 11 and 12; the portion 11 constituting its body portion while the part 12 constitutes a flat plate cover therefor. These may be secured together by any suitable means, such as rivets 13. This housing 10 may be made in any convenient size and configuration, but preferably it will be comparatively narrow, so as to occupy aminimum of space when in the pocket.

an enlarged fragmentary sectaken as indicated by the line 1.

A reel 14 is mounted within the housing 10 upon a transversely disposed pin or stud 15. Preferably the stud 15 will be rigidly secured to the back 16 of the portion 11 and the reel rotatable thereon. This reel is formed with a circular recess 17 therein, closed by a plate 18 seating upon an annular shoulder 19. While it is free to rotate upon the stud 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, it is normally restrained by the action of a coil spring 20, secured to it at one end, asat 21, and to the stud 15 and at its opposite end'. It is also normally held against rotation, by the action of s ring 20, in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, by teeth 22, fixed upon the cover plate 12 concentric with the stud 15, normally engaged by similar teeth 23 upon the end plate 24 of reel 14. As shown in Fig. 4, these teeth are formed to permit rotation of the reel 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. and hold it 100 against rotation in the opposite direction.

Reel 14 is normally'held spaced from the back plate 16 of the housing portion 11, and teeth 22 and 23 normally held in co-active engagementby the action of a leaf spring 25 105 interposed between the reel closure plate 18 and the housing back 16. Spring 25 is retained in place by the stud extending through an aperture 26 therein.

In order that the reel 14 may be rotated by the action of spring 20 it is axially mov- L l e upon stud lid-against the action of spring 25-to disengage the teeth 22 and 23, by means of a push button 27. This 1s clearly shown in Fig. 3. It extends through an aperture 29 in the cover plate 12 and is retained in place by an annular flange 3O confined between the plate 12 and the ad acent end plate 24 of reel 14. By pushing inwardly upon the button the reel w1ll be moved axiallyagainst the action of spring 25disengaging teeth 22 and 23.

A plurality of transversely disposed apertures or slots 32 are formed in the bottom edge 33 of the housing 10, and their ad acent sides turned down or rounded, as at 34, to eliminate sharp edges or corners. A plurality of small key retaining rings 35 are adapted to extend into slots 32 and are normally retained therein, by a flexible member 36 passing therethrough, as shown. 1n Figs. 5 and 6. This member may be either a cord or small chain or any other material which will be suflieiently flexible to accomplish my purpose as hereinafter explained.

The cord 36 is passed around the reel 14, and secured thereto at one end; and from the reel it is passed over a guide member 37 and its opposite end secured to the case 10, as at 38, so it will normally overlie the slots 32, as shown. The guide 37 may be either an arcuate piece of metal, fixed to the housing 10, or may be in the form of a small pulley, as shown in Fig. 7. Rings 35 will be split so that keys 39 may be removably secured thereto.

' WVhile any suitable construction and arrangement of the reel 14 and actuating means, including the means for holding it against rotation by the spring 20 and the means for disengaging this holding means, to permit rotation by the action of spring 20, may be used, that here shown and described will serve my purpose and will be preferred.

Also any type of key retaining means may be used in place of the rings 32, so long as they are arranged to slide free, upon the end 36. Various kinds of snap fasteners may be used for this purpose.

For encasing keys 39, a suitable flexible cover 40 may be secured over the housing 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the free ends 42 thereof being provided with a snap fastening means 43 for separably securing them together. This cover may be of leather or any other suitable pliant material. If desired it may be terminated a short distance beyond the edge 33 of the housing so the keys 39 will ordinarily extend beyond its end edges, and the snap fastener 43 eliminated.

In use the keys 39 will ordinarily be en closed within the case, as shown in Fig. 2. When it is desired to use a key the ends 42 are separated and thrown back as shown in dotted lines. The proper key is then selected and drawn out, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, until it is entirely free of the case and may then be freely rotated, after insertion in a look, without the necessity of likewise turning the case, as is common with the device of this character heretofore in use. \Vhen the key is pulled out the reel 14 is rotated against the action of spring 20, the teeth. 23 riding over the teeth 22, against the action of leaf spring 25. When the selected key is pulled out of the case to the desired extent the (o-engagement of teeth 22 and 23 will hold the reel 14 against the action of spring 20. After being used the key is returned to its normal position between the flaps 42 and adjacent the casing 14, merely by pressing on the button 27. This moves the reel 14 axially on the stud 15, against the action of spring 25, removing teeth 23 from engagement with the fixed teeth 22, thereby permitting the spring 20 to rewind the cord 36.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of construction. The principles here involved are identical with those above described and the structure is different only in making the housing 10' circular and the flaps 42 of like configuration.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred specific embodiment of my invention, in order that its principles of con struction and operation may be readily un derstood, I nevertheless reserve the right to make such changes or modifications in the structure as will properly come within the scope of the appended claims. As above stated, the mechanical details of structure and arrangement of the reel 14, together with its actuating and holding mechanism, may be altered without departing from thespirit of my invention. Also, as the portions of the case edge 33 between the apertures 32 merely constitute guides and supports for the cord 36, these may be formed of a series of pins, or any suitable means provided, whereby a plurality of keys may be carried on a single cord, in spaced relation, and individually drawn out for use without disturbing the others.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing; a plurality of spaced apertures in one wall of the housing, arranged in alignment; a continuous flexible member in the housing adapted to overlie said apertures; means to hold the flexible member longitudinally movable over the apertures; key securing members extending into each of said apertures and carried longitudinally slidable on the flexible member, said members being of a size to prevent their passing through the apertures; and means in connection with the flexible member to normally hold the key securing members adjacent the housing and to permit their being individually spaced therefrom without disturbing the others.

2. In a. device of the character described, the combination of a housing; a plurality of spaced apertures in one wall of the housing, arranged in alignment; a reel in the housing; a cord secured at one end to the reel and at its opposite end to the housing and arranged to overlie the apertures; means to hold said cord longitudinally movable over the apertures; key holding members arranged longitudinally slidable on said cord and adapted to extend into each aperture, said members being of a size to prevent their passing through the apertures; spring means in connection with the reel to normally hold said cord taut with the key holding members adjacent the housing and being yieldable to permit any key held thereby to be moved away therefrom by drawing the cord through the adjacent aperture; means in connection with the reel to releasably hold it against the action of its spring means and a flexible case in connection with the housing to hold the keys normally flat relative thereto.

3. A key case comprising a housin a plurality of spaced apertures in one wa l of the housing, arranged in alignment; a reel in the housin a cord wound around said reel and secure thereto at one end, its opposite end being secured to the housing so that a portion thereof will extend past said apertures; means to hold said cord longitudinally movable over said apertures; key holding members extending into said apertures and loosely retained on said cord, said members being of a size to prevent their passing through the apertures; there being yielding means in connection with said reel to normally hold said cord taut and the key holding members adjacent the housing and to permit longitudinal extensibility of the cord through said apertures.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31 day of March, 1925.

JOHN P. DE LEAU. 

